Detective Veranda Cruz’s ultimate showdown with the patriarch of a notorious crime family tests her loyalty, courage, and identity in a riveting thriller by the bestselling author of The Cipher.

Detective Veranda Cruz’s single-minded mission to destroy the Villalobos crime family has cost her more than she ever would have imagined, both professionally and personally. And put her squarely in their sights.

A brutal enforcer has agreed to turn state’s evidence, offering vital information that will end the Villalobos dynasty’s thirty-year reign of terror. But when an extradition operation crashes and burns, a new series of murders terrorizes the city. As Veranda navigates increasingly deadly threats, she realizes the mastermind pulling the strings is the organization’s notorious patriarch: Hector Villalobos.

After she deals his empire a stunning blow, Hector declares all-out war, arriving in Phoenix for a final showdown with Veranda. She has no choice but to confront him and the twisted ties that bind them. It’s a battle only one of them can survive.

Isabella Maldonado is an award-winning international and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose books are published in twenty-five languages. Her work includes the Nina Guerrera series, the Daniela Vega series, the Veranda Cruz series, and the Sanchez & Heron series with New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver.

Isabella wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in the Fairfax County Police Department near the nation’s capital, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. During more than two decades on the force, her assignments included hostage negotiator, department spokesperson, and precinct commander. After retiring, Isabella moved to Phoenix, where she began her second career as a novelist, using her law enforcement background to bring a realistic edge to her writing. For more information, visit www.isabellamaldonado.com.